Matias Varas

Associate Lawyer

Yrarrázaval, Ruiz-Tagle, Goldenberg, Lagos & Silva Abogados Ltda., Chile
Master of Construction Law 

Why did you choose to undertake a graduate degree in Law?
Because I wanted to get a deeper knowledge about a specific area of the law in which I have been involved during my professional career as a lawyer.

Why did you choose Melbourne Law School?
Because is one of the few Law Schools in the world that offer a graduate degree in construction law and also because of the worldwide prestige of the University of Melbourne.

Describe your career pathway - what is your current role and how did you get to where you are?
Back in Chile, I work as an associate lawyer in one of the most prestigious Chilean law firms. I have been working there since I was in the university, first as a paralegal and once I was admitted into practice, as an associate lawyer, a position I still have.

During my masters, I have also been working on a part-time basis with the construction group of Norton Rose in Melbourne.

Describe your experience of studying in the Melbourne Law Masters. What have been the highlights?
I have had an extraordinary time during my studies here in Melbourne not only because of the quality of the program but also because of the people that I had the opportunity to meet here.

One of the more extraordinary aspects of my experience here has been the possibility to share with many of the most prestigious professionals of the construction law in the world.

What are you planning to do once you have completed your degree? Where do you think your degree will take you?
Once I finish my masters and in order to gain some work experience in Australia, I will work for a period of time as Contracts Officer with Sinclair Knight Merz, an Australian engineering company which also has operations in Chile. After that time, I will return to Chile to work at the same law firm where I had been working until I came to Australia.

I think that having done a Master of Construction Law at the University of Melbourne will allow me to give to my career a new impulse, will assist me in providing better legal advice to clients and to be a real contribution not only to my law firm but to the general legal community in Chile.

What advice do you have for others considering undertaking a graduate degree in Law at Melbourne?
I think the most important thing is to be involved in all the activities that the university prepares for its students. It also seems to me very important to share and interact not only with the classmates but also with the lecturers and the staff of the University who are very keen to be involved with you as student.

Have you used any of the support services available to students in the Melbourne Law Masters (such as our academic support programs etc)? If so, what were your experiences with these services?
I have used many of the support services available for students including research assistance, writing clinics and also the career advisors and I have found all of them very useful tools to facilitate my academic experience during the masters.